Fan Fiction
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Call It Destiny
Chapter Six
The Return of Xena
Xena slowly rode toward the small farm. Even before she got within hailing distance she could tell something wasn’t as it should be. The closer she got the more evident it was that little had been done for a long time. The garden gate was open and was hanging by a single hinge. Goats and rabbits were eating what was left of the vegetables. The fence was broken down in places, and the barn door was laying on the ground. If it hadn’t been for the trickle of smoke coming from the chimney, she would have thought it was abandoned.
Xena dismounted and yelled out to anyone inside the house. The door squeaked open, and a dirty, disheveled Perdicus came out on the porch. Xena could smell the stale wine and days-old sweat on him.
“What in Tartarus do you want?” he asked, slurring his words slightly.
“Gabrielle.”
“Not here! She ran off months ago. Go talk to her folks, maybe THEY know where she is!”
And without another word, he went back inside and slammed the door.
With a quick, last look around, Xena got back on her horse and headed into Poteidaia, which was in a direct line to Gabrielle’s parent’s farm on the other side of the village. As she rode through town, she was aware of the stares and whispers. There was a time when she was used to being stared at, even welcomed it, because it was always out of fear and hatred. But now it was as if she was the subject of old women’s idle gossip.
Xena urged her horse on a little faster, anxious to get to the farm to find out what was going on. Just as Xena dismounted, Herodotus came out to meet her, followed by Hecuba and Lila.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I’m looking for Gabrielle.”
“She’s not here, thanks to you!”
“What do you mean? I haven’t seen her for almost a year.”
“She left a good husband and a good life to go off looking for YOU! You should be very proud!” The contempt in his voice was very evident.
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